Clasp-hook



W. MONROE.

CLASP HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29. I920.

1,350,033. Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

If WM YYIL LIAM MONROE.

WIL'LIAM MONROE, F HOOPER, NEBRASKA.

CLASP-HOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

Application filed January 29, 1920. Serial No. 354,761.

1 b all whom if; may concern Be it known that I, VlLLIAM MONROE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hooper, in the county of Dodge and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasp-Hooks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in hooks, clasps and the like and particularly to devices of this character used in connection with harness although the inventiouis not limited merely to this application.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device of the above general character which is adapted to secure more effectively harness rings or other parts, at the same time allowing of the removal of the harness "ings or other parts from the hook or lasp when occasion demands.

It is a further object of the present invention to dispense with the use of the springs employed in snap hooks, which are apt to break or become rusted and stick, and which also lose their resiliencyand refuse to close the mouth of the hook, so that the ring or other part secured in the hook may readily make its escape.

Snap hooks of the character at the present time generally in use are the source of great nuisance and annoyance to teamsters and other drivers of horses or other draft animals. by reason of the animals mane and tail hairs becoming ensnarled in the spring parts. under circumstances that prevent the ready disentanglement therefrom. A fur ther object of the present invention is to provide an improved keeper for the hook or clasp that will not invite the ensnarling of the animal's hair and which will permit their readv disengagement therefrom should the hair any reason enmesh the hook.

The d vice is particularly adapted to be used in conjunction with harness rings, although other articles or devices may equally well be used in conjunction therewith, or the improved hook or clasp may be modified to meet other uses.

A still further object of the present invention resides in providing an improved hook clasp or the like for carrying out the above described purposes which will be simple in construction and economical of manufactui'e.

The above, and various other objects and advantages of this invention will be in part described in, and in part be understood from, the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawlngs wherein Figure l is a plan view of an improved device constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing an edge view of ring adapted to be engaged with the hook.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the condition of the parts after the ring has been engaged with the hook.

Fig. 3 is an edge view ofthe parts as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. l is a plan view of the hook with the disk removed.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the'disk.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the improved device.

Fig. 7 is also an end view taken from the opposite direction, and,

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a rivet employed.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 10 designates a body portion which is advantageously formed with tapering, and preferably inwardly curved, longitudinal edges 11 and 12.

The body 10 is oifset dicated at 13 in F hook l-l is extended body downwardly as in- 3 and the back of the from the offset portion 13 in sul stantially parallelism with the body 10. The bill of the hook is returned upon the back part 14 in the manner best illustrated in Fi 3, the free end of the bill 15 being separated from the forward end of the body 10 and from the offset portion 13 vherel to produce an open mouth 16, into whic i may be received harness fittings, such for instance as a ring 17' or other devices usually adapted to enter a hook of this character.

The body portion 10 is formed with a fiat surface 18 extending from the offset part 13 toward the opposite end of the body, and a perforation 19 is made through the body part 10 and opens through the flat surface 18 near to the offset part 13.

A transversely extending shoulder 20 is formed in one piece with the body 10 at the side of the flat surface 18 opposite to the offset part 13. The transverse shoulder 20 is so formed as to leave an arcuate wall 21 perpendicular to the flat surface 18. Beyond the surface 20 the body 10 is still further enlarged as indicated at 22 and is provided with a rectangular or other suitably shaped opening 23. This opening 1s intended to receive the end of a leather strap of a set of harness or any other support for the able support about which the disk 26 may rotate, and by virtue of the proximity of the perforation 19 to the offset portion 18, the peripheral edge of the disk 26 is brought very close to the free edge of the bill 15 011 the hook. The construction and arrangement of these parts is such that the disk 26 will extend across and normally close the mouth 16 of the hook so as to confine a .device therein, such for instance as the ring 17 shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The disk at its side opposite to the bill 15 rotates close to the curved wall 21. of the shoulder 20, the curvature of these two parts being made to conform substantially to each other. The shoulder 20 therefore protects the disk 26 at this point from shocks and jars that it might otherwise receive, which would have a tendency to cant the disk on its pivot 24: and

throw the disk out of alinement, possibly causing its binding. A notch 27 is provided in the disk 26 and opens through the peripheral edge of the same. The notch 27 is of a suitable size, for instance slightly. larger than the cross-section of the ring 17, whereby to receive the ring 17 edgewise when the same is inserted or removed from the hook 15.

Of course the notch 27 would be made of other sizes and shapes where different devices are to be accommodated. The ring '17 or other device is then moved into the notch 27 as indicated in Fig. 1, after which the disk is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to cause the notch 27 with the ring 17 therein to move past the free end of the bill 15, whereupon the ring 17 may be drawn out from the notch 27 and the same will be found to be engaged with the hook. The escape of the ring 17 is prevented by the disk extending across the mouth 16 of the hook and even should the notch 27 accidentally jar to a position which would permit the ring 17 to enter the notch 27, this would not be apt to occur as the ring must be turned partially before it will be admitted to such notch. The notclr 27 is of course intended to be rotated to the opposite end of the body 10, where it will be protected by the shoulder 20 and the curved wall 21 and will in this position not be apt to ensnarl hairs. Should hairs become accidentally ensnarled in the parts, the rotation of the disk 26 in the proper direction will quickly free the same.

The disk 26 is adapted to be grasped at either side, the fingers being admitted by the tapering, inwardly-curved, edges 11 and 12 of the body 10 and such curved and tapering edges allow the ring 17 to'be moved in an edgewise position very close to the hook when the ring is being inserted on the hook.

The disk 26 is not under the strain imposed upon the springs of snap hooks and is not likely to become broken by excessive strain or become rusted or otherwise lose its resiliency and become ineffective.

I do not wish to be limited to size, form or proportions and it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, provided such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is A hook comprising a body portion having an offset portion and a bill returnedupon the offset portion and having its end spaced from'the body-portion providing a mouth, an arcuate shoulder on the body portion at the opposite end from the hook, said end having the shoulder formed with an opening, a pin extending through the body portion and forming acenter from which the curve of the shoulder is struck, a disk rotatably mounted on the pin and having its periphery rotating close to and past the free end of said bill and said arcuate shoulder, said disk having a slot in its edge, and an element adapted to interlock with the bill and receivable into the slot in the disk in moving into and out of the bill.

In testimony whereof, I. have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM MONROE.

lVitnesses ARTHUR'ZH. STURGEs, Hnmw A. Simmons. 

